4 ms·

>But I don't need to unionize. If I am not satisfied in my job I can switch. [...] This does not happen for unionized workers. I can't work out what "this" is

>But I don't need to unionize. If I am not satisfied in my job I can switch. [...] This does not happen for unionized workers. I can't work out what "this" is that does not happen to unionised workers? Unionised workers can switch jobs to get more pay too.

kortilla 4y ago
If the union has a structure with the company that rewards seniority then job hoppers are punished.
- xg15 4y ago
  I think there are different definitions of what a union even is. German here and I was really quite surprised to understand that unions in the US are apparently per company. I believe in most of the EU, unions are per business sector - so while unions are in a sense stakeholders of the companies (if the company goes bust, it can't provide jobs), it usually doesn't have a specific interest in keeping employees in a particular company.
  - JoeAltmaier 4y ago
    American unions have 'shops', which often correspond to companies. But sure America has national unions. Most of them are.
    - xg15 4y ago
      Ah, that makes sense, then I might have misunderstood. So does that mean, when the headlines say "Amazon workers (from a particular warehouse) vote to unionize", it's really about bringing that warehouse under the umbrella of an existing union?
      - ryanbrunner 4y ago
        Oftentimes, yes. They could form their own union but it's common to join an existing union. Having universal or near universal union membership for a certain profession is limited to certain jobs, things like warehouse workers or retail employees aren't anywhere near that.
    - ryanbrunner 4y ago
      I've always heard "shop" used in relation to a particular business being union or non union in terms of who they hire (i.e. "they're a union shop" means they'll only hire IATSE or something like that and no non-union people), and "locals" being the actual union you belong to, but that's from the theatre world which might be a bit different.

kortilla 4y ago

If the union has a structure with the company that rewards seniority then job hoppers are punished.

xg15 4y ago
I think there are different definitions of what a union even is. German here and I was really quite surprised to understand that unions in the US are apparently per company. I believe in most of the EU, unions are per business sector - so while unions are in a sense stakeholders of the companies (if the company goes bust, it can't provide jobs), it usually doesn't have a specific interest in keeping employees in a particular company.
- JoeAltmaier 4y ago
  American unions have 'shops', which often correspond to companies. But sure America has national unions. Most of them are.
  - xg15 4y ago
    Ah, that makes sense, then I might have misunderstood. So does that mean, when the headlines say "Amazon workers (from a particular warehouse) vote to unionize", it's really about bringing that warehouse under the umbrella of an existing union?
    - ryanbrunner 4y ago
      Oftentimes, yes. They could form their own union but it's common to join an existing union. Having universal or near universal union membership for a certain profession is limited to certain jobs, things like warehouse workers or retail employees aren't anywhere near that.
  - ryanbrunner 4y ago
    I've always heard "shop" used in relation to a particular business being union or non union in terms of who they hire (i.e. "they're a union shop" means they'll only hire IATSE or something like that and no non-union people), and "locals" being the actual union you belong to, but that's from the theatre world which might be a bit different.